Roku has established itself as a streaming powerhouse, surpassing 90 million streaming households globally in early 2025. This milestone underscores the dominance of streaming as the preferred way to watch TV in today’s entertainment landscape. User engagement continues to soar, with approximately 34 billion hours streamed worldwide via Roku devices in the last quarter of 2024 alone—a figure that has more than quadrupled since 2018.
Building a Roku TV app presents several challenges, including technical expertise requirements, complex development processes, timeline constraints, and monetization hurdles. These obstacles often discourage content creators and businesses from tapping into Roku’s massive audience potential. Castr’s OTT solution eliminates these barriers by providing a streamlined approach to Roku app development without the technical complexities.
This guide will walk you through the complete process of developing a Roku TV app using Castr’s white-label OTT solution. We’ll cover everything from understanding the platform to launching your app and building a stable revenue stream through various monetization options.
What Is a Roku TV App?
A Roku TV app is a digital application designed specifically for the Roku platform, delivering streaming content to viewers through Roku devices or Roku-powered smart TVs. The platform serves as a gateway between content providers and audiences, allowing creators to distribute their videos, shows, or movies directly to millions of households.
The history of Roku TV apps traces back to 2002 when Anthony Wood founded Roku with a vision of streaming internet content to televisions. The company launched its first streaming player in 2008, initially focusing on Netflix streaming after a collaboration with Netflix ended. Roku expanded its ecosystem by introducing the Channel Store, enabling various streaming services to reach viewers through its platform.
In 2014, Roku made a strategic move by partnering with TV manufacturers such as TCL and Hisense to embed Roku OS directly into their smart TVs, creating what is now known as Roku TV. This integration cemented Roku’s position as a leading streaming platform, with stakeholders including Roku Inc., Netflix (an early investor), and various TV manufacturers. The company went public in 2017, further solidifying its market presence and creating more opportunities for app developers.
Why Do You Need a Roku TV App?
Developing a Roku TV app has become essential for content creators, broadcasters, and businesses looking to expand their digital footprint. The platform offers unparalleled reach and engagement opportunities that can transform the way you connect with your audiences.
Massive User Base
Roku has surpassed 90 million streaming households globally as of early 2025, making it one of the largest streaming platforms in the world. This enormous audience represents a diverse demographic spanning multiple generations and viewing preferences. Your content gains immediate access to this vast potential viewership, significantly expanding your reach beyond traditional distribution channels.
High User Engagement
Total streaming hours on Roku more than quadrupled between 2018 and 2024, reaching approximately 34 billion hours in Q4 2024 alone. This remarkable engagement level demonstrates that Roku users are active and dedicated viewers who spend significant time on the platform. Gen Z viewers typically spend at least 2 hours daily consuming video-on-demand content via Roku, creating ample opportunity for your content to be discovered.
Market Dominance
Roku has maintained its position as the #1 selling TV OS in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for over five years. The platform is installed in nearly half of all U.S. broadband households, giving it unprecedented market penetration. This dominance means your app will be available on the most widely used streaming platform in North America, maximizing your potential audience.
Diverse Demographics
One-third of active Roku households in the U.S. include at least one member of Generation Z, who are avid streamers and prefer Roku devices. Additionally, viewers aged 50+ account for nearly 40% of streaming watch time and are driving growth in the streaming audience. This diverse user base allows you to reach multiple demographic segments through a single platform.
Strong Monetization Potential
The Roku platform offers robust monetization opportunities through subscriptions, pay-per-view models, and advertising. Gen Z viewers are particularly receptive to advertising on Roku, with one in three interested in interactive ads like shoppable content and QR codes. While Roku continues to grow internationally, the majority of its platform revenue comes from the U.S., indicating a lucrative market for app monetization.
What is the Castr OTT Solution?
Castr OTT is a comprehensive white-label solution designed to simplify the creation and management of streaming platforms. This solution enables you to launch your own branded streaming service across multiple devices, including Roku TV, without dealing with complex technical challenges. Castr OTT eliminates the need for specialized technical expertise or hiring a roku developer by providing a ready-to-use framework for your streaming app.
The solution supports both video-on-demand and live streaming capabilities, allowing you to deliver diverse content types to your audience. With Castr OTT, you can focus on creating quality content while we handle the technical aspects of app development, maintenance, and updates across web browsers, iOS devices, Android devices, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku platforms.
Why Choose Castr OTT Solution for Roku TV App Development
Castr OTT Solution stands out as the ideal choice for developing your Roku TV app due to its comprehensive features and user-friendly approach. We’ve designed our platform to eliminate technical barriers while maximizing your content’s reach and monetization potential.
Multi-Platform Support
Castr OTT provides seamless integration across web browsers, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. This cross-platform capability ensures your content reaches viewers regardless of their preferred device. Our solution handles the technical complexities of creating apps for different operating systems, saving you from hiring separate development teams for each platform and reducing your timeline to launch.
Brand Customization
Your streaming service deserves a unique identity. Castr OTT allows you to fully customize your Roku app to match your brand’s visual identity and user experience requirements. From logo placement to color schemes and interface layouts, you maintain complete control over how your app looks and feels to viewers, creating a consistent brand experience that builds recognition and trust.
Flexible Monetization
Build a stable revenue stream through multiple monetization options including monthly or yearly subscriptions, pay-per-view access for special events, ad-based revenue models, or a combination of different approaches. Our platform supports over 30 pre-integrated payment gateways including PayPal and Stripe, making it easy to process transactions globally. This flexibility allows you to experiment with different revenue strategies to maximize your earnings.
Advanced Analytics
Make data-driven decisions with our comprehensive analytics suite. Track viewer behavior, content performance, and sales metrics through an intuitive dashboard. Our in-depth reporting tools provide valuable insights into user engagement, subscription trends, and revenue generation. These analytics help you understand what content resonates with your audience, allowing you to refine your strategy and grow your viewer base effectively.
How to Develop a Roku TV App with Castr White Label OTT Solution
Developing a Roku TV app with Castr’s White Label OTT Solution eliminates the technical hurdles typically associated with app development. Our streamlined process handles the complex coding, SDK implementation, and platform requirements, allowing you to launch your app without specialized technical knowledge. Here are the key steps to develop your Roku TV app:
Subscribe to Your OTT Plan
Choose from our four flexible pricing models, designed to accommodate various business needs and budgets. Our plans range from basic streaming capabilities to comprehensive enterprise solutions with advanced features. Check our OTT Pricing to find the perfect plan for your Roku TV app development requirements.
Share Your Content with Us
We begin by gathering your specific requirements, including content type (VOD or Live) and genre, such as boxing, education, or entertainment. Our team helps determine the most suitable payment gateway based on your location and target audience. We provide a comprehensive demo of the platform, allowing you to visualize the final product before proceeding with development.
Let Our Developer Develop the App
Your OTT apps will be delivered in two phases for maximum efficiency. The web version of your platform will be ready within 48 hours of project initiation. iOS/Android apps and TV apps, including your Roku channel, typically take up to one month to complete due to app store review processes. We recommend preparing your developer accounts in advance to avoid unnecessary delays.
Launch Your App in the Roku Channel Store
Once development is complete, we guide you through the process of submitting your app to the Roku channel store. Our team ensures your app meets all technical requirements and platform guidelines for a smooth approval process. We handle the technical aspects of submission while you maintain ownership of your developer account and content.
Get Support from the Castr Developer Team
Our support doesn’t end at launch. The Castr developer team provides ongoing technical assistance to ensure your Roku TV app continues to perform optimally. We handle updates, troubleshoot any issues, and implement new features as the platform evolves, allowing you to focus on content creation and audience growth.
Conclusion
Developing a Roku TV app represents a significant opportunity to reach millions of streaming households and build a stable revenue stream through subscriptions, pay-per-view events, or advertising. With Roku’s dominant position in the streaming market and rapidly growing user base, content creators can no longer afford to ignore this powerful platform. The technical challenges of app development should not hinder the ability to tap into this massive audience.
Castr White Label OTT Solution offers the ideal blend of technical expertise and user-friendly implementation for your Roku app development requirements. Our white-label approach ensures your brand remains front and center while benefiting from our robust backend infrastructure. With latency-free streaming technology, comprehensive monetization options, and cross-platform compatibility, Castr eliminates the need for technical expertise or hiring a Roku developer.
The power of Roku developer tools is now accessible to everyone through our streamlined solution. Whether you’re looking to create your own Roku channel with a dedicated audience or expand your existing content to new platforms, Castr provides the technical foundation for your success. Don’t let limited technical knowledge hold back your streaming ambitions. Contact Castr today to begin your journey toward launching a professional Roku TV app that connects with viewers and generates revenue.
